To make store bought chocolate icing black, you can use a dark chocolate frosting and add a small amount of black gel food coloring, or cover the icing with black fondant.
Achieving a true black color with store-bought chocolate icing requires specific techniques. Based on the provided reference, there are two primary approaches: modifying the frosting directly or covering it.
Methods for Black Chocolate Icing
Here are the effective ways to turn your store-bought chocolate icing black, according to the reference:
1. Using Black Gel Food Coloring
This method involves altering the color of the frosting itself.
- Start with Dark Chocolate Frosting: Begin with a store-bought frosting that is already dark brown, like a dark chocolate or devil's food flavor. This provides a strong base color, requiring less black dye to achieve the desired depth.
- Add Black Gel Food Coloring: Incorporate a small amount of black gel food coloring. Gel colors are highly concentrated, so start with a tiny drop and mix thoroughly. Add more gradually until the desired black shade is reached. Gel coloring is preferred over liquid dye as it doesn't significantly alter the frosting's consistency.
Tip: It's easier to make a darker color black than a lighter one.
2. Covering with Black Fondant
This technique doesn't change the icing's color but covers it completely with a pre-colored black layer.
- Prepare the Icing: Apply your tasty icing to the cake or cupcakes as usual.
- Cover with Black Fondant: Roll out black fondant and carefully place it over the iced surface.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Be careful to keep white things off the fondant. This means avoiding contact with flour, powdered sugar, or any light-colored debris that could mark the dark surface.
Using black fondant provides an immediate, uniform black finish, while coloring the icing directly allows for a softer texture but may require careful dyeing to achieve a deep, consistent black.
| Method | Description | Base Ingredient Recommended | Result Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding Gel Food Coloring | Mixing dye directly into the frosting | Dark Chocolate Frosting | Colored Frosting |
| Covering with Fondant | Applying a black layer over the icing | Any Tasty Icing (covered) | Black Exterior |
